Javier offers Grace his water and she takes a couple of sips. As she hands it back, he says, “You guys, when this is over and the police come, I might try to take off.”

“Why?” Grace asks.

“I don’t need to be answering too many questions.”

Miranda still doesn’t understand. Then Cole says, “He means he’s in this country illegally. Am I right, buddy?” There’s a new edge to his voice.

Javier doesn’t flinch. “I’ve been here since I was a baby, but you’re right, I’m not legal.”

“I thought,” Amina says hesitantly, “you could stay if you were under sixteen when your parents brought you.”

“That’s only true if you’ve stayed in the States for the whole time.” Javier sighs. “But last year I lived for nine months with my abuela in Mexico. My grandmother. She was dying, and I took care of her. But that means I don’t qualify. If Immigration finds out, I’ll get deported.”

Cole’s lips twist. “Maybe that’s for the best. People like you are taking Americans’ jobs.”

Javier’s face hardens. “People like me are taking jobs no Americans want. All day, I clean up people’s garbage. Sometimes dirty diapers and vomit. If Americans want my job so much, how come no one’s applying for the openings we have?”

Cole just grunts and looks away. The good mood begun by Miranda’s dad’s phone call and Amina’s food evaporates. No one is looking at each other.

All that’s left is to wait for the cops to save them. To wait for it to be over.

One Last Time

ONE LAST TIME

4:25 P.M.

At the entrance to the Shoe Mill, Parker peeps out. Lips is talking through the gate to Mole and Wolf. Seeing them, he rages silently against the guy with the gun. How hard would it be to kill them all right now? He could probably take them out before they could react.

When the killers are all looking the other way, Parker slips out of the store.

He’s about ready to check out the AT&T store when he looks across the hall. How could he have been so stupid? If Moxie is trapped in here, he knows exactly where she is.

Keeping clumps of people between him and the killers, he slowly moves toward the Van Duyn candy store. He ducks inside. A section of the white counter has been flipped up. He checks behind the cash registers. No Moxie. With his bound hands, he eases open the door at the back of the shop. Once he’s inside what turns out to be a small workroom, he uses his foot to gently close the door behind him.